TTF 09

Chapter : 09 — Really, Your Majesty?

The Temptation of Flowers

If he had cherished that girl so much, he could at least have given her some warning.

But there was someone who was even more worried than she was.

“What am I to do now?”

“What do you mean?”

Yi Sang-gung bit her lips, her face filled with distress.

There was no use saying such things to the Chimjeon Sang-gung.

His Majesty had taken Yeonhwa all the way to Gangnyeongjeon. That alone implied a great many things. There was no telling what kind of thunderous reprimand might befall her as soon as tomorrow.

Seeing the anxiety in her eyes, the Chimjeon Sang-gung’s expression became complicated.

“Indeed. Why did you make things so difficult for the girl who had once served His Majesty?”

At the Chimjeon Sang-gung’s words, Yi Sang-gung’s expression hardened.

She felt wronged.

“Did you not say that Jungjeon Mama was furious because Mama had failed to consummate the marriage and therefore had to bring Yi-pan’s daughter into the palace as a royal concubine?”

“……”

“You even said that I should be made to suffer a little too, and that she was an unbearably insolent girl. Who was it that said—”

“I understand, I understand. Enough already.”

“You scolded me and made things so difficult for me every time. Do you really think I could have been at ease?”

At Yi Sang-gung’s words, the Chimjeon Sang-gung avoided her gaze.

The Chimjeon Sang-gung herself had been furious that Yeonhwa, who was not even a Seungeun Sang-gung, had made her bow her head. So, even though she knew what had been happening in the Sojubang, she had pretended not to know.

“The discipline of court ladies is the Sang-gung’s authority. She was not even a Seungeun Sang-gung, so there is no need to worry too much.”

The Chimjeon Sang-gung acknowledged that she had been rather harsh toward Yi Sang-gung all this time and tried to calm her down.

Of course, discipline was indeed the Sang-gung’s authority.

The affairs that occurred among the court ladies were not matters for the king to involve himself in. Moreover, given Hyeon’s character, he was unlikely to interfere in such things.

However, the displeasure of a royal concubine who had received the king’s favor was an entirely different matter.

If she did not make herself appear favorable even now, her life in the palace would become difficult from here on.

“Unless Yeonhwa receives Seungeun at Gangnyeongjeon right away, she will return to her quarters. Even then, treat her warmly.”

At the Chimjeon Sang-gung’s words, Yi Sang-gung relaxed her tense shoulders. Then she bowed her head and returned to her quarters.

“Umm……”

Around two shikyeong—about one hour—later.

A groan escaped between Yeonhwa’s lips as her brows twisted.

“Have you awakened?”

The court lady who had been about to change her clothes and leave widened her eyes in surprise.

But Yeonhwa’s eyes were opening even wider than hers.

It was an unusually spacious room for someone like her.

Yeonhwa looked around before opening her mouth.

“W-Where is this……”

“Mama!!”

Before Yeonhwa could finish speaking, the court lady, having confirmed that she was conscious, hurried outside with an excited voice.

“She has awakened. Hang-a Mama has awakened.”

Upon hearing this, the Jimil Sang-gung ran to Manchuweon—the king’s office—and informed Hyeon of the news.

Not knowing what was going on, Yeonhwa merely moved her pupils back and forth inside her large eyes before slowly sitting up.

For a long while, she wondered if she was dreaming as she looked around. Eventually, she managed to speak.

“Where on earth is this……”

At that moment, the door opened, and a man dressed in a red dragon robe entered through it and approached her.

She could not say a word, wondering if even this was a dream.

Yeonhwa’s eyes trembled widely at the sight of the man who had appeared before her.

“Y-Your……”

The words would not come out, yet she did not understand why tears were suddenly welling up in her eyes.

“How did you get up in such a state? Lie back down.”

At the sound of his gentle voice, one that Yeonhwa knew so well, something hot surged in her chest.

Yeonhwa, who had never recognized the emotion called longing, was frightened because all the feelings inside her were unfamiliar.

Hyeon grasped her shoulders and gently made her lie back down.

“Have you even been eating properly? Have you been sleeping properly?”

At the concern filling his voice, Yeonhwa could only blink.

Seeing her like that, Hyeon smiled without realizing it. He reached out and gently caressed her cheek.

“Look at yourself. Does this even look like a person’s face?”

Hyeon could not hide his heartache at Yeonhwa’s haggard appearance.

And yet, inwardly, he wondered how a human face could possibly be this beautiful.

“Is it really, Your Majesty? How did I get here……”

As warmth spread from the hand touching both her cheeks, Yeonhwa realized that this was not a dream.

Hyeon gave no answer to her question. He merely showed her a warm, gentle smile.

Those eyes—the very same gaze that had first been kind to her.

Yeonhwa had not even had the strength to swallow medicine. Yet at a single look from Hyeon, the corners of her lips unconsciously curled upward into a smile.

For Yeonhwa, who must have been hungry, Hyeon ordered the Suragan to prepare food.

Only after Hyeon had made such a fuss over her did Yeonhwa finally finish the porridge completely.

“I shall return now.”

Yeonhwa thought she had already caused more than enough trouble. That was why, despite Hyeon’s worried gaze, she stubbornly insisted on leaving.

“I can only be deeply grateful for the gracious favor Your Majesty has bestowed upon this lowly servant.”

Yeonhwa lowered her head and once again expressed her gratitude to Hyeon. But Hyeon’s eyes were filled with regret.

“Please consider Song Nain’s wishes.”

Sangseon helped Yeonhwa and spoke on her behalf.

A court lady who had received neither a Cheopji nor Seungeun could not spend the night at Gangnyeongjeon.

Hyeon wanted to move her quarters to at least the nearest detached palace to Gangnyeongjeon. But with the time of Ingyeong approaching, even that was impossible.

“Prepare an Okgyo.”

At Hyeon’s command, Sangseon once again wore an expression of astonishment.

A mere court lady was going to ride a palanquin that even a Sang-gung could not ride?

Sangseon desperately wanted to raise his voice and say that such a thing was impossible.

But given Hyeon’s personality, if he told him that an Okgyo could not be used, Hyeon looked like he might even have his own Yeon—the king’s palanquin—brought out.

“I shall carry out Your Majesty’s command.”

Sangseon reluctantly went outside to prepare the Okgyo.

Having received his answer, Hyeon looked at Yeonhwa and spoke firmly.

“If anyone lays a hand on you again, make sure you tell them that I will not stand by and do nothing.”

Yeonhwa widened her eyes, wondering what he meant.

The court lady who had changed Yeonhwa’s clothes had examined her unusually warm calf. She had reported the matter after Hyeon ordered her to check whether there were any other injured places.

Hyeon’s face was filled with anger.

Yeonhwa could not help but burst into laughter.

“Oh? Are you laughing right now? I am so upset that I am angry like this, yet you can laugh?”

Yeonhwa had only laughed softly, but she pressed her lips together to hide her smile. Then she cautiously began to speak.

“I beg your forgiveness. The sight of Your Majesty getting so angry was simply……”

Yeonhwa was about to honestly reveal what she had been thinking, but her voice trailed off.

No matter how comfortably he treated her, he was still the king of this country. Thinking that she needed to be careful with her words, Yeonhwa lowered her head.

“Simply? Simply what?”

Hyeon, focused on the words coming from Yeonhwa’s lips, urged her impatiently as though frustrated.

“Oh, this is maddening. Hurry and tell me.”

“I-I was happy. I was simply so happy that Your Majesty cared about me. That is why, despite how greatly I am unworthy of such kindness, I could not help but laugh.”

Unable to withstand his urging, Yeonhwa finally answered, her face turning red.

Even while being shy, she had a remarkable talent for squeezing Hyeon’s heart.

Thinking that this innocent girl was taking him on an emotional roller coaster, a hollow laugh escaped Hyeon’s lips as well.

Hyeon reached out toward Yeonhwa’s cheek, which she could not even raise her head from embarrassment. He gently stroked her cheek, his eyes overflowing with affection.

“I will come to find you soon. So do not ever hurt your body. That is a royal command.”

When Yeonhwa raised her head and met Hyeon’s gaze directly, she felt as though her heart would burst.

Her entire body seemed to pulse rapidly, making it difficult even to breathe.

The innocent expression on Yeonhwa’s face could not lie.

Hyeon pressed his lips against Yeonhwa’s.

He gently coaxed her slightly bitten lips before sweetly kissing them.

But he knew that if the kiss deepened, it would become difficult to suppress his desire. Therefore, Hyeon pulled his lips away at the proper moment.

Yeonhwa’s closed eyelids slowly opened after feeling Hyeon’s lips.

Hyeon felt as though he might become intoxicated by her beauty, so he pulled her into his arms and held her tightly.

“Wait just a little longer.”

There would have been no problem with taking her for himself immediately.

But Yeonhwa had only just awakened after losing consciousness.

Thinking of her fragile body, Hyeon suppressed his desire with all the strength he had.

Enduring it like that, Hyeon promised himself that he would meet her again in the future.

After arriving at her quarters in the Okgyo, Yeonhwa repeatedly looked around.

“I am sorry for causing you unnecessary concern.”

Yeonhwa bowed her head to Sangseon, who had escorted her at Hyeon’s command.

Sangseon also bowed his head to her.

Clearly, he was a superior of a higher rank than her. But certain that she would soon become his superior, Sangseon treated her with proper courtesy.

“Please go inside, Hang-a Mama. I shall meet Yi Sang-gung before returning.”

At his words, Yeonhwa looked at him with concern.

“Please do not worry. I shall merely tell her to take good care of Hang-a Mama.”

Reassured by Sangseon’s gentle expression, Yeonhwa relaxed.

“Thank you.”

Yeonhwa repeatedly expressed her gratitude before returning to her quarters.

Sangseon then went directly to find Yi Sang-gung.

“What brings you here, Sangseon Yeonggam?”

“You know well enough.”

At Sangseon’s firm words, Yi Sang-gung squeezed her eyes shut, thinking that what she had feared had finally come.

Seeing Yi Sang-gung, who was extremely tense, Sangseon shook his head.

“I know your character, Yi Sang-gung. I have only come to give you a little warning, so there is no need to be so nervous.”

Hyeon had only ordered her to take good care of Yeonhwa. He had said nothing about Yi Sang-gung, the person in charge of the Sojubang.

However, since there was nothing to be gained from creating unnecessary conflict, Sangseon had come to see Yi Sang-gung.

“A warning?”

“Surely you have noticed it yourself by now?”